This paper introduces the FMI 3.0 Layered Standard for Network Communication (FMI-LS-BUS), an extension of the Functional Mock-up Interface 3.0 (FMI 3.0) standard designed to address interoperability challenges in simulating distributed, networked systems, particularly in automotive applications. By leveraging FMI 3.0 features such as clocks, clocked variables, and hierarchical terminals, the standard defines two complementary abstraction layers: Physical Signal Abstraction (High-Cut): Representing physical signal values as clocked variables. Network Abstraction (Low-Cut): Emulates hardware-level bus protocols (e.g., CAN, Ethernet) using FMI 3.0’s clocked binary variables. Aligning with the V-model development process, we demonstrate how these layers address distinct challenges in different design phases: High-Cut supports require- ments engineering and functional testing by simplifying signal exchange during Virtual Electronic Control Unit (vECU) integration. Low-Cut enables later phases of the design validation by replicating network timing and protocol specific properties, such as error handling. The standard’s applicability currently focuses on automotive use cases (e.g., CAN, CAN FD, CAN XL, Ethernet, FlexRay, LIN) but can be extended to industrial au- tomation and IoT, facilitated by its domain-agnostic structure.